Preview — The Monster Baru Cormorant
by Seth Dickinson

The Monster Baru Cormorant

A breathtaking geopolitical fantasy as fraught as Game of Thrones, The Monster Baru Cormorant is the long-anticipated sequel to Seth Dickinson gut-wrenching debut, The Traitor Baru Cormorant.

Baru Cormormant's world was shattered by the Empire of Masks. To exact her revenge, she has clawed her way up razor-edged rungs of betrayal, sacrifice, and compromise, becoming the ve

A breathtaking geopolitical fantasy as fraught as Game of Thrones, The Monster Baru Cormorant is the long-anticipated sequel to Seth Dickinson gut-wrenching debut, The Traitor Baru Cormorant.

Baru Cormormant's world was shattered by the Empire of Masks. To exact her revenge, she has clawed her way up razor-edged rungs of betrayal, sacrifice, and compromise, becoming the very thing she seeks to destroy.

Now she strides in the Masquerade's halls of power. To save the world, she must tear it asunder...and with it, all that remains of her soul.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Community Reviews

If you think this cover is scary, wait what happens when you read the pages of the book. Pardon my Latin but Baru is scaring the shit out of me and this happens rarely. In comparison with her, Jorg was like a rescued shelter puppy. FRTC___

That sense of horror and disgust and shock and the feeling that everything was NOT going to be all right ever again?

That's how I feel now, having read Monster Baru Cormorant.

Sure, sure, I kinda felt that way at the end of Traitor Baru Cormorant, too, but this is the real deal. The Game is set up and all the pieces are on the board. No side trusts her and yet, no one KNOWS, and yet she still manages to keep everyone doubting. Is Baru with them? Against? Is shRemember the Red Wedding scene in GoT?

That sense of horror and disgust and shock and the feeling that everything was NOT going to be all right ever again?

That's how I feel now, having read Monster Baru Cormorant.

Sure, sure, I kinda felt that way at the end of Traitor Baru Cormorant, too, but this is the real deal. The Game is set up and all the pieces are on the board. No side trusts her and yet, no one KNOWS, and yet she still manages to keep everyone doubting. Is Baru with them? Against? Is she fighting and scheming against the Masquerade? For it?

Even she doesn't know. She's betrayed so many people, thinks of herself as a monster, and yet she is still having an issue between wearing a mask for doing the right thing or just doing the right thing because it's right, with no calculation.

It's obviously a journey novel, but she knows all the islands in this fantasy realm. She's the one gaining ever more power. But pushing aside the deeply dark bits, it's more about identity. Being a lesbian, being feared, finding real connections with others, and making absolutely impossible decisions... regularly.

The novel juggles all of it brilliantly, and more. The islands and cultures are amazing. The depth of worldbuilding is as good or better than almost any Fantasy novel I've read. And the author doesn't stint when it comes to economics, politics, science, medicine, and even the mythological ramifications of a world rich with uranium (and how it poisons the people here).

Every character is smart. Almost everyone wears a mask between official beliefs and keeping an open mind, between faith and mistrust. But best of all, the journey Hits Hard. *shiver*

This is a review of book #2 in the Masquerade Series, so there's spoilers for the first book.If you’re thinking of getting into the series, check out my review of book #1, The Traitor Baru Cormorant! I received an ARC of this book from the publishing company Tor in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Monster Baru Cormorant was one of my most anticipated sequels and *happy sigh* it was fucking brilliant.

The sequel picks up exactly where the first book finished, giving us anotThis is a review of book #2 in the Masquerade Series, so there's spoilers for the first book.If you’re thinking of getting into the series, check out my review of book #1, The Traitor Baru Cormorant! I received an ARC of this book from the publishing company Tor in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Monster Baru Cormorant was one of my most anticipated sequels and *happy sigh* it was fucking brilliant.

The sequel picks up exactly where the first book finished, giving us another glimpse at Baru and Tain Hu's last moments together. Now Baru has ascended to a new level of power, and has been entrusted with a correspondingly even more difficult task. She is to help direct the looming conflict between the Masquerade Empire and the sprawling Oriati Mbo. To do so, she and several other agents of the Empire are sent on an expedition to learn the secrets that have kept the Oriati happy and prosperous for a thousand years. Of course, Baru has her own plans for the Empire... and must deal with the fallout from her previous manipulations.

In a word, this book is bigger. We now get multiple POVs: mostly Baru yes, but also people who hate her or are unsure of her. There's another storyline woven in as flashback interludes, following the Oriati Federal Prince Tau-indi as they navigate the lead-up to the previous war between the Masquerade and the Oriati Mbo. In general, we see more of the world, as Baru and the other characters travel around (primarily the outskirts of) the Masquerade Empire, and we learn more of the world's history and cultures.

This leads to the questions asked being bigger too. Traitor explores what one person might, or could, or must do to overthrow an empire, and whether that cost is worth it. Monster continues the same line of questioning with: "Okay, but say you do overthrow the empire... have you thought about what then?" Burning it all down is a fun goal, but there's no way to stuff globalisation back in the box. Presuming the goal is not merely blind rage and destruction of all civilisation (and of course with Baru, that's a big presumption)... what then?

The increasing scope means the book is packed very dense. Sequels are always a little complicated; while Traitor could function as a stand-alone, Monster is very clearly setting up the dominoes for later. Much of the book consists of worldbuilding, introducing us (and Baru herself!) to territories and factions outside Taranoke and Aurdwynn. There's a lot of information to keep track of: the Masquerade colonies' culture before colonisation; the Masquerade colonies' culture after; the various political factions within the Masquerade (most importantly the navy); past, fallen civilisations such as the Tu Maia and the Jellyfish Eaters; the Oriati federations' history and numerous cultures; other world players, such as the Stakhieczi's Necessary King... It feels overwhelming sometimes.

On the other hand, I would happily read a whole "non-fiction" history book about Baru's world. (And yes, among my co-bloggers I'm known for having a virulent hatred of worldbuilding for the sake of worldbuilding, so... I guess this is the greatest compliment I could offer a fantasy book.) I think this is because the peoples in Baru's world are clearly influenced by non-European cultures, e.g. the Oriati having three genders or the Segu having a matriarchy, which makes everything feel fresh and intriguing. I really enjoyed having to puzzle through what is actually truth and what's propaganda against the various cultures as well. As with the first book, Dickinson refuses to make any culture wholly good or bad, e.g. terrifying eugenics is lauded inside the Masquerade, infanticide is common outside it. The scope also makes the world feel that much more convincing and similar to ours, where a project like "dismantle colonialism" could not be completed by snapping one's fingers. And while I didn't cry at Monster like I did at Traitor, it did fill me with a horrible existential dread and despair at the state of our own world so, y'know, points to the book.

Of course, Baru remains the captivating, complex centre of it all. To put it politely, she is not unaffected by the events of book one. To put it less politely... she's a fucking mess. This is maybe a bit disappointing when compared to Traitor: she's less in command, and she doesn't really have the chance to show off her abilities like she did in Aurdwynn. On the other hand, it humanises her in an important way. The book also starts probing more harshly into where Baru ends and where the Empire, which has been molding her since a young age, begins. To her distress, Baru herself isn't sure. (By the way, basically none of the characters trust Baru now, even when she's actually telling the truth, and it's kind of darkly hilarious.)

The other characters are interesting too. Some old faces reappear and get their own POV, such as Aminata, Baru's sailor friend. She's bitter at her new job and wonders what the hell all these rumours about her old friend Baru are about. Tain Hu remains an overwhelmingly strong presence in the book as well, which I really appreciated. Of the new characters, the most intriguing is Tau-indi, who is our window into the culture of the Oriati. The Oriati people believe in 'trim', the art of connectedness, and that relationships with others have a material effect on the world. (The beauty of this being a fantasy book is, of course, that the reader has no idea for sure if this is a belief system or simple fact.) Tau's unrelentingly, bluntly human-oriented approach makes a fun contrast to Baru's cold logic.

Finally, in regard to the writing, I'm not sure what to say that hasn't been said for book one already. It remains immaculate. Dickinson has a way of making the large feel large, of making huge declarations seem just as bone-chillingly powerful as they are meant to be. I'm also impressed by how well the fantasy words flow off the tongue, both the names (Xate Yawa, the Llosydane Islands, the Cancrioth) and little bits of the old tongues (ayamma, ayamma, a ut li-en). Thankfully, Dickinson also inserts a decent amount of little humorous and human moments into the book, which keeps it from being an exercise in utter bleakness. Shout out especially to the cryptarch Apparitor, who's Done With Everyone's Shit.

Ultimately, I think Monster is a sequel that doesn't go in the direction most people would expect. It diminishes the importance of Baru, slows down the pacing, and introduces a heap of new difficulties. One particular crucial plotline/worldbuilding aspect seems to come out of the blue (well, it doesn't if you read Traitor very, very carefully). At the same time, I found this direction fascinating and exciting. I absolutely loved The Monster Baru Cormorant, and I can't wait to see where book 3 takes us.

I recommend this book for:

- Fans of political fantasy
- Fans of complex worldbuilding
- People tired of the "standard Western European fantasy setting"
- People who like anti-hero main characters
- Fans of fantasy books with little to no magic
- Particularly fans of fantasy books where you're not sure if there's little or no magic
- People looking for LGBT protagonists
- People who've had enough of 2018 and are ready to start planning the World Revolution, but would like to see all the possible issues with said Revolution explored before they start sharpening the guillotine - People who loved The Traitor Baru Cormorant! What are you waiting for, let's go!
...more

This book has certainly been one of my most hyped of 2018. Has it lived up to the hype? For me, absolutely. However, I can see some people being disappointed by it. Since this book won’t be out for a while, I don’t want to reveal too much. As such, the format of this review will be a little different than what I usually write.

Plot: Monster starts right where Traitor ends, and we get another glimpse of That Scene with more insight. From there on, Baru begins to learn her new powers as a cryptarchThis book has certainly been one of my most hyped of 2018. Has it lived up to the hype? For me, absolutely. However, I can see some people being disappointed by it. Since this book won’t be out for a while, I don’t want to reveal too much. As such, the format of this review will be a little different than what I usually write.

Plot: Monster starts right where Traitor ends, and we get another glimpse of That Scene with more insight. From there on, Baru begins to learn her new powers as a cryptarch, as well as the weight it comes with. Eventually, she is tasked with the prevention, or initiation, of the second Armada War. We are also introduced to fellow her cryptarchs. Southeast of Aurdwynn, Lieutenant Commander Aminata isiSegu, Baru’s navy friend from Taranoke, is rather unhappy with her current position. She’s soon given a mission that leads her right back into Baru’s path. Back in Aurdwynn, Province Admiral Juris Ormsment is cleaning up messes in Treatymont and vows revenge against Baru for the massacre at Welthony. Finally, 25 years before the current storyline on Prince Hill, we meet thirteen-year-old Tau-indi, Federal Prince of the Oriata Mbo. With each faction and members within each faction pursuing different objectives, the story begins.

Pacing: The pacing of Monster is slow and is the part I think most readers will be turned off by. Dickinson takes his time introducing characters, giving the reader insight into their motivations, and building the world they live in. While this allows for very thorough world building and character development, the trade-off is a very slow book. Roughly the first 130 pages are pure exposition, but the first clash of factions kicks off the plot with a bang. Afterward, there are long lulls between bits of action, filled with character studies, dialog, introspection, and worldbuilding. The most important thing to highlight here is that while I found the story slow, I never found it dull.

Characters: The world of Monster is not a happy one, and the characters in the book reflect that. Each character carries a lot of baggage, and given the introspective nature of the narration, a fair amount of time is spent on it. Baru is still Baru, power-hungry as ever. After the ending of Traitor, she is more hesitant and more closed than before. She’s also notably easier to anger than I remember in Traitor. However, her thirst for knowledge remains and shows visible excitement over new information. Sadly, this book didn’t showcase her financial skills as much as I would have liked, and I hope we see more in the next book.

Baru aside, my favorite character had to be Apparitor. He has a charming, rogue-ish personality (belying further suffering) that caught me from the beginning. Sadly, we get only the skeleton of his backstory. I would like to see more in the future. I found both him and his attendant Iraji very sympathetic and likable. All the characters I would wish happiness for, it would be those two.

There are seven POVs overall, though we mostly get Baru’s perspective. Dickinson does a really good job keeping each voice distinct, and even though each character is angsty, they’re all angsty in different ways. Each character felt like their own distinct, fully-fleshed character. I think that while the total character count is smaller than Traitor, they’re more diverse and spread out.

Writing: Dickinson’s prose is beautiful, as usual. Between lush worldbuilding description and emotional introspection, I experienced a rollercoaster of emotion while reading this book. I will say, I would recommend reading with a dictionary in hand. Dickinson has a large vocabulary and isn’t afraid to use it, but that left me often having to google words to get the full context. In some ways, Monster could be SAT vocab prep in fiction form. Dickinson plays with formatting to signify certain thoughts, and I didn’t realize the significance behind it until embarrassingly late.

World Building: The worldbuilding of Monster greatly expands the world introduced in Traitor. We’re given more details of Falcrest, the Stakhieczi, and the Oriati Mbo, with a focus on the Oriati Mbo. I was really astounded by how much thought had to go into creating each one of groups. The Oriati Mbo are such are a rich and complex culture, and as long as this book is, I wish I could learn more about their history. It was also nice to see so many different cultures with non-western inspirations. For those looking for a book with a non-western setting, this one has several.

I also have to commend Dickison for his exploration of gender constructs and gender roles. We see patriarchal societies, matriarchal societies, and those in-between, all very realistically portrayed. The Oriati Mbo have three genders, and we have a character who is this third gender and I was so incredibly happy to see that they used the singular they. This is the first book I’ve read that’s done this.

Overall, the worldbuilding is one of the strongest points of this series, and it’s definitely worth a re-read just to catch missed details. I was too excited about getting a copy of Monster to re-read Traitor, so there were events and characters I’d forgotten. My copy sadly did not come with a map, which would have been incredibly useful. I believe that the published version will have one. I can see where people would dislike this book because of the slow pacing, but I personally enjoyed the extra time spent in the characters’ heads.

A worthy sequel to Traitor

4.5/5__________________________________Before:

It's done. I've finished it. There's a lot to unpack here but overall it was great.

I was just approved for this book on NetGalley, YAY! But I haven't read the first book yet, oops. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for about a year now. This sequel is being published at the end of October, so I guess I'd better get going on The Traitor Baru Cormorant...

My original rating still stands, though a more level ratinwig would probably be closer to a 4.5/5. There's just a little something that this book is missing that makes it as good as The Traitor Baru Cormorant, its predecessor. I think what Traitor had was a bit more naïveté and thrilling joy of the idea of turning the Masquerade inside out. Though Traitor tackled serious themes and ended on a very somber10/31/18: IT HAS BEEN READ.

So, I binge-read this as soon as it came out. (As in, yesterday.)

My original rating still stands, though a more level ratinwig would probably be closer to a 4.5/5. There's just a little something that this book is missing that makes it as good as The Traitor Baru Cormorant, its predecessor. I think what Traitor had was a bit more naïveté and thrilling joy of the idea of turning the Masquerade inside out. Though Traitor tackled serious themes and ended on a very somber note, there was a lot of joy to be found in the racing through the years (as Baru raced through the ranks and her plans).

Which is not to say Monster isn't enjoyable or doesn't have its small, quiet and happy moments. It's just missing that little spark. But I do think in a way, that makes sense. Baru is really struggling in this book. She's deeply depressed and guilt-ridden, and her attempts to force it all down just makes her feel worse. Baru really is a monster in the eyes of herself and everyone around her. And that's what makes this book feel heavy, the knowledge that Baru's bright-eyed enthusiasm for rebellion is gone. The more time passes, the more sluggish Baru seems, almost forcing herself to continue with her plans if only because there is no reason not to. It's in stark contrast with the first book, where Baru was forcefully sincere in her desire to destroy the Masquerade.

That being said, this book is still outstanding. It does suffer a bit from the so-called "middle book syndrome". But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Middle books are the vehicle to propel us from a journey's start to finish. If Traitor was exciting because it was the start of a new adventure, Monster is (the start of) a long, desperate struggle to get to the resolution.

+ The Characters: As with the first book, the story juggles a plethora of characters (of good, bad, and to be determined intentions). This is still very much Baru's book, Baru's story, but Dickinson decided in Monster to have the readers spend some time in other characters' shoes (both in the past and present), and I think it was a very good writing decision. It ups the political intrigue and makes conversations/pacts between characters all the more mysterious. Absolutely no one is to be trusted -- though, of course, Baru is the most hatred and least trusted of them all right now. The different POVs also serve to help flesh out previously-side-characters and make the world-building flourish. (view spoiler)[And Tain Hu may be gone, but her presence is deeply felt throughout, like a phantom limb. (hide spoiler)]

+ Baru: I love her so much. She's truly a mess. And she remains my favorite character in the series.

+ Writing: Dickinson is an impeccable writer. What can I say? One of my favorite books of all time is Wicked, and so in my eyes the highest compliment I can say is that Dickinson writes as good (if not better) than Maguire's standout work. The different POVs are all unique and Baru's more fluid, stream-of-conscious type thoughts and dreams are quite striking.

+ Themes: Like before, Dickinson tackles a lot of serious themes in Monster, primarily sexuality, gender, sexism, racism, and colonialism. One thing that I particularly enjoyed was how often (view spoiler)[Baru discussed her sexuality with others and within herself. There's a sense that Baru still carries a bit of shame about being a lesbian, but in giving up Tain Hu, Baru now allows herself to be much more open about her sexuality and her thoughts on how it is perceived. I enjoyed Baru's conversations with other queer characters about queer sexuality/relationships. These discussions let Baru become more confident in the fact that she is a lesbian and that her sexuality is valid and unchanging. It's in interesting contrast to how Baru struggles to control her sexual urges as much as possible, still fearful of it being used against her. There's a duality here that rings true in today's world; the knowledge that your queerness can always be used against you, can be used to hurt you, and that you can never fully let your guard down because of it. All of the queer characters in Monster have that creeping fear, though each character deals with it in their own way. (hide spoiler)]

+ Twists: My god. These are going to keep me wondering and turning over and over again in my head until the third book. The plot goes in some rather unexpected directions and there were some huge revelations in the last 1/3 of the book.

There's really no major missteps here in Dickinson's second Masquerade novel. At times I did find the pacing to be a little slow, but not so much that it truly impacted my enjoyment. And that being said, I honestly can't think of anything I would have cut from the novel. I don't think slowness is truly a bad thing; the world-building is so rich, the political lines all so tangled, that they simply just beg to be expounded upon.

At times though I was wishing that there could be a glossary to refresh us on all the characters, especially with the influx of new characters/cultures. Maybe in book 3?

All in all, I went into this book with stupidly high expectations and was very pleased to come away feeling satisfied. I wish that I could sit down and read the next installment right now ...

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02/20/18: Yes!! We finally have a cover! ❤️❤️

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I don't normally rate books before they come out, but, really ... the first book was phenomenal. One of my top 10 favorite books. 100% expect this book to be just as good.

Too bad we have to wait until 2018 ...["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

Absolutely riveting. The sequel to the fabulous Traitor Baru Cormorant is different in many ways. Baru has achieved the power she desired, and must now figure out how to achieve her goals of overthrowing the Empire of Masks. However, she has stacked against her the other Cryptarchs with their own agenda, the possibility that she's actually brainwashed by her mentor, people seeking vengeance for what she did in Aurdwynn, and her own guilt, trauma, and physical disabilities. All this without the pAbsolutely riveting. The sequel to the fabulous Traitor Baru Cormorant is different in many ways. Baru has achieved the power she desired, and must now figure out how to achieve her goals of overthrowing the Empire of Masks. However, she has stacked against her the other Cryptarchs with their own agenda, the possibility that she's actually brainwashed by her mentor, people seeking vengeance for what she did in Aurdwynn, and her own guilt, trauma, and physical disabilities. All this without the philosophical questions of whether it's right to want to turn back change from an empire and globalization, when culture is in fact a fluid thing. We meet and experience the pov of many other characters (friends and foes), which I absolutely loved - it's hard not to sympathize with some, even if they are set against Baru on the board. We learn about the Oriati kingdom and culture, which is ABSOLUTELY fascinating, Read this book for that alone. There is plenty of action and explosion, and quite a bit of scheming, although slightly disappointed that there was less economical wrangling by Baru in this one. It's pace I felt was slightly better than the first book, because we're constantly on the move through the book world. The ending basically has me begging for the next book asap. Can't wait to see more of these power hungry crazy people and their attempts to control their world....more

The Traitor Baru Cormorant was one of my favorite books ever. Too bad it’s not going to have a sequel. Because although Monster continues the plot, it seems to hare off in a totally different direction. Goodbye intrigue, hello adventure stories. Imagine you were reading Song of Ice and Fire and Tyrion Lanister suddenly decided to drop all this scheming nonsene and go in search of the legendary panjandrums of Ashai.

If you read Traitor and Monster back-to-back (which I did), you’ll find the shiftThe Traitor Baru Cormorant was one of my favorite books ever. Too bad it’s not going to have a sequel. Because although Monster continues the plot, it seems to hare off in a totally different direction. Goodbye intrigue, hello adventure stories. Imagine you were reading Song of Ice and Fire and Tyrion Lanister suddenly decided to drop all this scheming nonsene and go in search of the legendary panjandrums of Ashai.

If you read Traitor and Monster back-to-back (which I did), you’ll find the shift in tone almost jarring. In the first book, emotions are buried deep and seldom revealed directly. Baru’s own identity is so disjointed that she barely reveals it to herself. In Monster, things are very different.

People are just stupidly direct. They say what they think - and, if not, then you can tell their thoughts from the many POVs the book has.

To give one example, Baru’s homosexuality was buried so deep in the first book Baru only spelled it out - in her own thoughts - once or twice. In Monster, Baru practically screams it at anyone who would listen.

The cryptarchs from the first book, and many other characters, have changed utterly to fit this new tone. In the first book, they were all mysterious puppet masters, their motives so opaque as to be incomprehensible, their emotions never revealed. In Monster, they wear their emotions so plainly, that either they are terrible at hiding their emotions or Baru is terrible at reading them. These are the people who stand behind the faceless throne, who’ve betrayed everything they ever loved, who have power beyond most people’s wildest dreams. One of them just acts like a sulky teenager.

In the epilogue of the first book, Baru wrote several letters that seemed to be setting the tone for the next installment, and her role as one of the cryptarchs. Well, they turn out to be totally irrelevant if not entirely misguided. It turns out that, her first “assignment” as one of the shadowy puppet masters who sit behind the faceless throne, is to go on an adventure. They call it a “fact finding mission,” but she’s basically searching for a bunch of wizards. With a bunch of other shadowy puppet masters as companions. Clearly, an apt conclusion to the scheming she excelled in in the previous book.

I kind of assumed, apparently incorrectly, that being a cryptarch means you get other people to do stuff like that for you. That you focus your entire attention on commanding the empire that’s under your control, buying favors and allegiances, weaving nets of intrigue, and so on. Nope. It’s all about going on wild goose chases.

Now, because Baru is off in some remote corner of the world, all of her power as a cryptarch is basically non-existent. So everything she fought to get in the previous book is completely worthless in this one. It’s just incomprehensible - why was she sent on this journey? And more importantly, why did she agree to go?

A very important villain is introduced in this book. This villain is a perfect fit for Monster, with its adventure stories. She has her own POV, and I found those parts just annoying. She thinks in quasi-philosophical drivel, and this drivel gives her the ability, among other things, to kill lots of people and not die. I found her impossible to relate to or appreciate.

Now, Monster definitely has some good parts, and if it wasn’t the sequel to Traitor I might’ve even liked it. But it’s just a terrible fit for a sequel to the first book....more

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes provided may change in the final vesion.

For me, this has been one of the most anticipated releases of 2018. I couldn’t wait to return to the world and see where the story takes Baru next, I pre-ordered in case I wouldn’t get the ARC, and when I did, I was almost wary of reading it, anticipating the emotional punch. The enthusiasm from bloggers who got it earlier was contagious. Sadly, while it was good, itThanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes provided may change in the final vesion.

For me, this has been one of the most anticipated releases of 2018. I couldn’t wait to return to the world and see where the story takes Baru next, I pre-ordered in case I wouldn’t get the ARC, and when I did, I was almost wary of reading it, anticipating the emotional punch. The enthusiasm from bloggers who got it earlier was contagious. Sadly, while it was good, it didn’t quite live up to its hype.

Who says you have a duty to a nation? Who says you cannot reject an unjust duty? Who says you can decide which evil is small enough to tolerate, and which is too great to allow? Who says you should allow anyone to hold such power over you, the power to use your work for purposes you do not understand?

The prose and the characters are, as in the first book, fantastic. I highlighted a lot. Baru is still as ambitious as ever, but deeply messed up from the Empire’s training and the events of the previous book, not trusted by anyone, conflicted and unsure what the right thing is. She has a lot of feelings and no idea what to do with them. There are sections from the POV of different characters that highlight just how much of an unreliable narrator she is, and each of them is as complex in their motives as she. My favourite would probably be Tau-Indi, an Oriati laman (non-binary person) who is Baru’s polar opposite - they are a strong believer in human connection and truth rather than scheming and lies, and immensely likable because of it.

Baru thought it very important that she care anyway: for if she lost that, the ability to care for a stranger, what human credential did she have left?

Some worldbuilding developments are rather unexpected, but not necessarily in a bad way. I also did not reread the first book, so while I did remember broad strokes well enough, any subtle foreshadowing was likely missed. There is a stronger horror undercurrent (though I can’t specify in what way without spoiling) and the world is expanded by a lot, introducing us to many other cultures. They are all flawed, all interesting, all fresh, and all feel very authentic. I hope the hardcover will include a map. Again, I liked the Oriati the most because of the contrast they provide to Falcrest (eugenics give me the creeps…), but fellow fans of cultural worldbuilding with a side of social commentary will find plenty to enjoy. The magic remains ambigous to nonexistent. Any strange things that happen can be explained in a non-supernatural way and only time will tell which way it leans. If.

There was, however, one problem that made the book a bit of a disappointment: it has a pretty bad case of middle book syndrome. When I picked it up, I ended up reading a few chapters, but as soon as I put it down I had little desire to pick it up again. It took me over two weeks to get through it where I would be perfectly capable of reading it in a day or two. There’s a lot of travelling around, visiting new places, trying to solve a mystery, political scheming, lots of Baru angst…but no coherence. It gets a bit stale. There’s no strong sense of the plot going anywhere for most of the book and the pacing isn’t particularly good. It’s all set-up, and compared to the first book, it pales. And I’m normally pretty good with slow books.

Will continue the series? Yes. There’s still plenty of potential, the writing is solid. Still, I can’t help but be let down a bit.

Enjoyment: 3/5Execution: 3.5/5

Recommended to: political fantasy fans, those looking for original settings and representation, worldbuilding enthusiasts, those looking for books with little to no magicNot recommended to: those who hate unreliable narrator, fans of fast-paced books

This is one of those books. One that will not let you rest. It will challenge you, it will seduce you, it will ensnare you, it will break you... and you're going to love every second of agony it brings you.

The only fault I can find with this book is that the next book I pick up will feel totally inadequate in comparison.

Oh, and I might actually go mad waiting for the continuation of Baru's story. So please, Mr Dickinson, write with all haste.

Seth Dickinson subverts expectations with his second book. Although Baru's ambitions are even grander, her powers vastly increased and her worldview magnified, the actual page-to-page action of her story has shrunk: gone are the countrywide rebellions and dozens of political players in favour of a more intimate and altogether stranger voyage. The stakes are higher (war between empires; the possible fall of civilisation itself), but Baru's own mission is reduced to a couple of island economies, aSeth Dickinson subverts expectations with his second book. Although Baru's ambitions are even grander, her powers vastly increased and her worldview magnified, the actual page-to-page action of her story has shrunk: gone are the countrywide rebellions and dozens of political players in favour of a more intimate and altogether stranger voyage. The stakes are higher (war between empires; the possible fall of civilisation itself), but Baru's own mission is reduced to a couple of island economies, a handful of ship pursuits, and a half-dozen companions as ambitious, warped and potentially monstrous as herself.

All of this is necessary because Baru has lost her own clarity-haunted by new injuries and overwhelming guilt, discarding her formal restraint in favour of a kind of perverse hedonism, all the while grappling with her own ambitions and the question of how much she is prepared to sacrifice to the causes of revenge and power. Her economic insights and manipulations, so key to the plot of Traitor, are now offhand and callous. Her goals are as much personal as they are philosophical. The Monster Baru Cormorant is an internal journey for Dickinson's savant heroine, and one that crucially prepares her for the global events clearly building in the next book.

Unlike Traitor, the book hops around between half-a-dozen viewpoints but remains firmly centred on Baru herself, even while the diverse voices of our narrators both showcase Dickinson's skill and throw into sharp contrast the fractured style of Baru's own narrative. Even though the book's events are smaller-scale, the worldview feels significantly broader.

Monster finally gives us a glimpse of this world's fantastic elements - which are all the more imaginatively bizarre for being (so the afterword claims) broadly based on real-world phenomena. While Traitor clung to a level of realism that made it feel more like historical fiction than fantasy (if such a thing can ever be said about a wholly invented world), this book shows a little of its true colours-and is all the richer for it.

This is a less complete book than its predecessor - ending on a firm cliffhanger, resolving none of its own events - and it's impossible to tell how Baru's story may end; but the journey is undeniably brilliant....more

Baru Cormorant’s actions on Aurdwynn have numerous consequences. She is now Agonist, a cryptarch, one of the secret lords of the Imperial Throne of the Imperial Republic of Falcrest. She has also made a lot of enemies, one of whom is a navy admiral, who decides to mutiny in order to bring Baru to a form of justice.

Baru Cormorant’s actions on Aurdwynn have numerous consequences. She is now Agonist, a cryptarch, one of the secret lords of the Imperial Throne of the Imperial Republic of Falcrest. She has also made a lot of enemies, one of whom is a navy admiral, who decides to mutiny in order to bring Baru to a form of justice.

Baru believes she’s one step further towards destroying Falcrest and freeing her homeland, but cryptarch rivals Hesychest and Itinerant have a job for her and two of their other proteges.

This book picks up immediately where the previous one ended, and if you don’t remember all of the characters and subplots of the first book, I’d highly recommend giving it a quick reread. I was very happy that an issue I had with that book’s ending was dealt with pretty heavily in this one.

There are plots within plots, and two main points of view, that of Baru (told in third person) and Xate Yawa (told in first person). The switch was a bit jarring at times, but insured you didn’t mistake who’s thoughts you were observing. There are also flashbacks to a previous war from the viewpoint of Tau-indi, a prince of the Oriati Mbo, which gives cultural and historical information for the continent and for the war of ideas between the cryptarchs.

The worldbuilding is incredibly intricate. Everything is connected and the language recognizes differences from our own world - like ‘matronizingly’ instead of ’patronizingly’, because some cultures have a matriarchy as a system of rule. I loved the attention to detail.

While Baru is often - though not always - able to avoid personal consequences for her actions, once again it’s clear how she causes serious fallout in her wake, particularly with regards to trade and the economics of some of the islands she visits. Very serious consequences, for what seems like limited gains on her part. This makes her an increasingly hard character to like or sympathize with. Which I believe is the point.

A lot of the action is set-up for the next book, so the plot here feels scattered at times. Having said that, the level of intrigue is high and I never felt bored.

Be prepared to remember a lot of names and get lost in intrigue. If you like morally dubious characters, this book is for you....more

When you have nothing to do at your sterile, completely silent, slightly oppressive work place... Maybe picking up Baru Cormorant isn't the BEST idea you could have. But still.I expected to be transported. Awed. Horrified. Reluctantly impressed.Instead I was just bogged down by political manoeuvres that were so dense and so baselessly convoluted that I couldn't be brought to care about them. (view spoiler)[ Suddenly immThis book sucked. Wow.

Or maybe I just read it in an uninspiring environment.

When you have nothing to do at your sterile, completely silent, slightly oppressive work place... Maybe picking up Baru Cormorant isn't the BEST idea you could have. But still.I expected to be transported. Awed. Horrified. Reluctantly impressed.Instead I was just bogged down by political manoeuvres that were so dense and so baselessly convoluted that I couldn't be brought to care about them. (view spoiler)[ Suddenly immortality-inducing cancer is the motivation for the entire plot? What????? (hide spoiler)]

I think what made me appreciate the politicking in The Traitor Baru Cormorant was the way it grew with the plot. We got to see Baru from this young, clever, slightly lost but definitely searching for something more girl to this jaded, angst-ridden, bitter, confused, lonely but incredibly brilliant young woman. And we understood the undercurrents of the power struggles, we were invested in the motives, we were holding our breath for the results, we felt the ache of Baru's choices, we reveled in the depth of her victories and that ending... OMG. THAT ENDING (!!!!!) It wrecked us.

But there was no such emotional steamroller in this book. The most memorable thing for me was how long it was. That's it. I kept on thinking, "Wait. I'm not yet done???" And maybe also Tau-indi. Tau-indi was memorable. Tau-indi's interludes made this book for me.

But I did persevere through all 500 pages. So I guess that says something for the book. And it had a few very quotable lines. Which I enjoyed.And just to end this review on a positive note, I'll leave you with one:

"When you are disemboweled in battle, you tie your guts up tight, and you keep fighting. Later the wound can kill you. Once you've won." ...more

You didn't get much mail. I suppose because you've murdered or estranged everyone who's no longer useful to you. Ha ha. That's like a joke, in that we'll both have to pretend we think it's a joke so we can work together civilly. That's my favorite kind of joke. - Apparitor

The Monster Baru Cormorant picks up exactly where Traitor left off and, man, the stakes are set against our favourite savant accountant. But that's just what happens when you've betrayed an entire country, Baru has paid a priceYou didn't get much mail. I suppose because you've murdered or estranged everyone who's no longer useful to you. Ha ha. That's like a joke, in that we'll both have to pretend we think it's a joke so we can work together civilly. That's my favorite kind of joke. - Apparitor

The Monster Baru Cormorant picks up exactly where Traitor left off and, man, the stakes are set against our favourite savant accountant. But that's just what happens when you've betrayed an entire country, Baru has paid a price and it's heavy and it weighs heavily on her and she....well, she is ready to make the best of it.

Monster is deliciously evil, with wonderful, saucy dialogue dripping with intrigue and danger. In fact, danger escalates in such rapid, breakneck speed that even the eponymous Baru never feels safe and there might no one our Machiavellian heroine can trust.

The Traitor Baru Cormorant was probably – easily – my favourite read of 2015 and, while Monster isn’t as flawlessly crafted (there are, arguably, an unnecessary large quantity of POVs) it feels like a worthy successor – the intrigue is high, the monsters are fascinating (and quite frankly grotesque) and there are hidden motives for the hidden motives!

The dialogue had me giggling, because Dickinson is a master of the craft:

I’m going to tie you to the table” Baru snapped, “here, quick – trust me--” “Of course, of course, every time a woman’s tied me to a table, it’s been grand.” “Don’t flirt with me! I’m trying to save you!” “I’m trying to encourage you!”

And also:

Do you keep eyelets in your sunroom!” I don’t have a fucking sunroom, I live in an armory!” “There’s your problem,” Tau said, philosophically, “too many swords, not enough sun.”

It’s excellent stuff, pick it up and you won’t regret it.

Thanks go to Seth Dickinson for awesome work and to NetGalley for hooking me up!...more

There is a big disconnect between the title and the titular characters actions in the book. She is no monster. She is in fact, wholly honest and naive. She tells everyone what she intends, but none believe her. She is a monster only in the imagination of others.

Unfortunately, the story telling is as bad as the first book. The main plot moves along purely by happenstance. Others act, Baru is surprised and things work out for her. In between the action, every character talks about their feelings aThere is a big disconnect between the title and the titular characters actions in the book. She is no monster. She is in fact, wholly honest and naive. She tells everyone what she intends, but none believe her. She is a monster only in the imagination of others.

Unfortunately, the story telling is as bad as the first book. The main plot moves along purely by happenstance. Others act, Baru is surprised and things work out for her. In between the action, every character talks about their feelings and plans at length. So much so that going from point A to point B takes half the book. Repeat to reach point C. Like the book before this, "show, don't tell" is a completely foreign concept to the author.

I am thoroughly disappointed. I excused the 1st book because it was an origin for a ruthless Cryptarch. Finishing the book, I am of the opinion that the Protagonist in the authors head is not the one he seems to be writing about. With the announcement of a 4th book, I find myself losing all interest.

TL;DR: Don't read. Bad writing and predictable story. No monsters to be seen....more

Did not give me the same gutstab feels as the first book but I cared about the characters, the plotting was well done, and the world was interesting if not entirely within my ability to suspend disbelief at times.

Since his 2012 debut, Seth's fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Analog, and nearly every other major science fiction and fantasy market.

He's a lapsed student of social neuroscience, where he studied the role of racial bias in police shootings, and the writer of much of the lore and fictional flavor for Bungie Studios' smash hit Destiny. In his spare time he works on the collaboratiSince his 2012 debut, Seth's fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Analog, and nearly every other major science fiction and fantasy market.

He's a lapsed student of social neuroscience, where he studied the role of racial bias in police shootings, and the writer of much of the lore and fictional flavor for Bungie Studios' smash hit Destiny. In his spare time he works on the collaborative space opera Blue Planet: War in Heaven.